Thursday, September 27, 2007

We had a wonderful mission trip to Wales. My grand-daughter, Haven, is glad. She was a little concerned that I was in a whale. (She's 3 1/2) She knew I would be OK because Jonah and Pinocchio both were in whales once and they were both OK, but she really didn't like it that I was in one.

I'm basically just trying to stay awake today. I'll put up some pictures an info about Wales over the next few days. We had an excellent trip. "Brilliant", as the folks over there would say. The IMB men we were working with were thrilled with the response of the Welsh to our being there. We'll see over the next few months how God uses what we did to further His Kingdom.

Sunday's anthem - Great Is Thy Faithfulness

THANK YOU! - to Dan Dickerson for leading worship and for taking care of so many things for me while I was away.

Thank you, too, to Donna for making sure our Music/Worship Ministry continued on without a hitch while I was away.

Friday, September 21, 2007

I think it's Friday anyway. I'm at an internet cafe paying 50 pence every ten minutes for internet and computer use.We're very tired. We get in late at night. We sang three concerts yesterday: one on the town square (the pictures you see here), one at a hospital and then the big concert last night at a chapel in a small village of about 500 people. Another choir joined us. They hadn't been scheduled, but they heard about us on the BBC and from the other choir and seeing posters and they wanted to sing with us too. It is really cool. We sing at a different chapel each evening.

A lady from the BBC has our CD and is coming to our concert at the big hall at the University in Bangor tomorrow night.

This picture is of the chapel we sang in last night. the tomb stones were 7 and 8 feet high!

The response from the people here has been "brilliant" as the Welsh would say. a much bigger and better response than the missionaries had ever imagined. After the evening concerts we have "tea" - I guess we would call it a reception. They serve desserts and of course tea. They have giant tea pots and serve in china of course. No paper goods here. The tea here is quite smashing. Charlotte explains it is because it doesn't have orange pekoe in it. I don't know the resaon, but with some milk and two or three spoonfuls of sugar it is very delicious.

God is doing some great things here through our trip. My bill is adding up quickly, so ta-ta for now.

Thursday, September 20, 2007

So don't say that it is.I don't have much access to internet, but I've got a guy here that will be posting (in my name) on a place where you can get updates aboutour mission trip. Go herewww.tmcwales.blogspot.com

Everything is going very well. The missionaries were blown away by the wonderful reponse last night. They had never tried anything like this before and didn't know what kind of response they would get form the people here. It was more than they could have imagined. I guess I should have them read the last two verses of Ephesians 3. (My favorite verses!) gotta run. Check back at www.tmcwales.blogspot.com for updates.

Sunday, September 16, 2007

We had a good day at Hilldale today. The choir sounded great on their song and Tyson did a great job with the solo. The congregation sang well - even on songs that were a little new to them. Our guest speaker, Dr. Geoff Hammand, President of the North American Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention, delivered a powerful challenge to us to Seize a Divine Moment.Then, Sunday night we heard mission reports in the service, had a good number in AWANA and LIFE University and - the part that has to do with music/worship - we had a great handbell rehearsal and StudentZ PraiZe choir rehearsal with 40 students there.

And... I had two flute players and a clarinet player tell me they were going to come to our Wind and Fire rehearsal.

It is so fun to have everyone all excited about our music/worship ministry. I see really great days ahead as we work and rehearse together getting ready for missions and worship and special events adn "the tree" and more. Woohoo!

Whenever I can get access to a computer and the internet I'll put a note here on the blog about my mission trip to Wales.

Thursday, September 13, 2007

In choir last night I mentioned that Adoption Day was coming up on October 2. We're very excited to officially add Benjamin to the family. You can see a little more about him - OK, probably a lot more if you spend some time - on my other blog http://www.papalyndel.blogspot.com/Here's a picture of Benjamin playing a piano keyboard. You can tell music runs in the family.Here's a cool verse for you to consider. -Ephesians 1:4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will-- 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.

Wednesday, September 12, 2007

I'm going on a singing mission trip with the Tennessee Baptist Men's Chorale to Wales next Monday. I'll be gone for 10 days. The people of Wales have a great singing tradition. Every little town has a men's chorus. Many of our hymns were written in Wales: "Immortal, Invisible", "Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah", "Praise the Lord Ye Heavens Adore Him", "O the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus", "Like a River Glorious" and more. However, over the years, the people of Wales - as in all of Europe - have become very secular and church attendance in an Evangelical church is at about 2%. The purpose of our trip is to try to connect - build relationships - with the men in the choirs there. We will be singing joint concerts with some of the choirs and singing in the Chapels (small churches). We hope to also be an encouragement to the believers there who are very discouraged by the spiritual state of their nation and low numbers of Christians.

A castle near where we are staying.

The TN Baptist Men's Chorale is made up of Worship Pastors/Ministers of Music from all across Tennessee. Here is an article in one of the Welsh papers about us.

The article points out that "the churches in America still sing the hymns from the Welsh tradition as a vibrant way to express their worship of God." What of wonderful testimony of our singing. The article also says that this tour is our "thank you" for the rich musical tradition of the Welsh.

Thursday, September 6, 2007

We've had a nice beginning to our Wind and Fire Ensemble. We have a very interesting combination of instruments right now: a flute, clarinet, bassoon, tenor sax, trombone and electric bass who also plays trumpet. I have piano parts available and am looking for a pianist that isn't already involved in our music/worship ministry to join us. We could also use a couple more treble instruments.

We sounded really good last night. It's going to be a lot of fun playing together. You'll be hearing from us soon.

Handbells will rehearse on Sundays from 5:00-5:45 in room 406 (the handbell room). We'll begin work on some new music including "How Great Is Our God" and a song that will be a part of "The Tree".

Our Studentz Praize ensemble is something new! It is for students in grades 6-12. We'll meet in Youth Building A from 5:45-6:30. We have a great new book called Made to Worship which includes songs like My Savior, My God, Made to Worship, You Are Incredible and more.

Tuesday, September 4, 2007

Tomorrow night is our Christmas party! I thought you might like a sneak peek of some of the things you'll see at the party.

Don't forget to bring some finger food. We'll start filling our plates about 6:15, but we won't open the doors to the choir room until 6:22.

a HUGE thanks needs to be said to Star, Lynn and Donna for all they have done to help me get ready for the Christmas party. And of course I couldn't do all that I do without my lovely wife Cheryl at my side. Wait 'til you see the cool present she made for each of you!

Monday, September 3, 2007

"Christmas is coming the geese are getting fat.Please put a penny in the old man's hat."

(This silly goose thought the "Christmas Goose" got to sing a solo in "the Tree". You can see how disappointed he is when he found out what you really do with the goose!)

I want to be the first to wish you a Merry Christmas in 2007!

We're having a big Christmas party this Wednesday night. We'll have cookies and punch and finger foods (if you bring them) (anyone have a good "goose" recipe?) and we'll have a first listen to the music for "the Tree"! Bring someone with you!

Join us Wednesday night at 6:30 (you can come a little early for Christmas snacks)

Charles Billingsley's concert was wonderful! What a gorgeous voice - incredible. and it was fun! There were a few moments where he was David Letterman (on a nice day) and Adam was Paul. and the fun ways he sang I'll Fly Away was soooo funny.

But the thing that impressed me the most was Charles the person. He was so genuine and kind and worked so well with our sound guys and wasn't your typical "excuse me, I'm a star, you should be very proud to be in the same room with me" type person who is demanding and basically unpleasant to be around. No, he was funny and appreciative and cared about our church and what we are doing.